Global insight

‘Large-scale’ bribery and smuggling sting at Indian airports

SIX senior Indian Customs officials have been arrested, along with 13 other people, in connection with an alleged bribery and smuggling ring involving several Indian airports, writes Thelma Etim.

An assistant commissioner, two superintendents, two inspectors and an official from Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) International Airport – are among 19 who have been detained in the investigation, reveals the country’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in an official statement.

After a concerted search at Trichy, a substantial amount of cash was seized, whilst a cache of documents was also impounded after similar searches took place at the airports of Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, along with the residences of public servants, the bureau discloses.

“It was alleged that large-scale smuggling of contraband goods through the Trichy airport was going on…with Customs officials [allegedly] obtaining undue advantages from smugglers for [allegedly] allowing [the importation] of goods from Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia etc, without payment of Customs duties, thereby causing huge revenue losses to the government of India,” asserts the CBI statement.

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